Abstract
Background
This randomized phase II study explored the superiority of trastuzumab plus S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) over SP alone as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for HER2-positive resectable gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis.
Methods
Eligible patients with HER2-positive gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer and extensive lymph node metastasis were randomized to receive three or four courses of preoperative chemotherapy with SP (arm A) or SP plus trastuzumab (arm B). Following gastrectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was administered for 1 year in both arms. The primary endpoint was overall survival, and the sample size was 130 patients in total. The trial is registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, jRCTs031180006.
Results
This report elucidates the early endpoints, including pathological findings and safety. The study was terminated early due to slow patient accruals. In total, 46 patients were allocated to arm A (n = 22) and arm B (n = 24). NAC was completed in 20 patients (91%) in arm A and 23 patients (96%) in arm B, with similar incidences of grade 3–4 hematological and non-hematological adverse events. Objective response rates were 50% in arm A and 84% in arm B (p = 0·065). %R0 resection rates were 91% and 92%, and pathological response rates (≥ grade 1b in Japanese classification) were 23% and 50% (p = 0·072) in resected patients, respectively.
Conclusions
Trastuzumab can be safely added to platinum-containing doublet chemotherapy as NAC, and it has the potential to contribute to higher antitumor activity against locally advanced, HER2-positive gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer with extensive nodal metastasis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68:394–424.
Al-Batran S-E, Homann N, Pauligk C, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel versus fluorouracil or capecitabine plus cisplatin and epirubicin for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4): a randomised, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2019;393:1948–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32557-1.
Cunningham D, Allum WH, Stenning SP, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone for resectable gastroesophageal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:11–20. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa055531.
Ychou M, Boige V, Pignon JP, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy compared with surgery alone for resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: an FNCLCC and FFCD multicenter phase III trial. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:1715–21. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2010.33.0597.
Sakuramoto S, Sasako M, Yamaguchi T, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer with S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1810–20. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa072252.
Sasako M, Sakuramoto S, Katai H, et al. Five-year outcomes of a randomized phase III trial comparing adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 versus surgery alone in stage II or III gastric cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:4387–93. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2011.36.5908.
Bang Y-J, Kim Y-W, Yang H-K, et al. Adjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin for gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy (Classic): a phase 3 open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012;379:315–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61873-4.
Yoshida K, Kodera Y, Kochi M, et al. Addition of docetaxel to oral fluoropyrimidine improves efficacy in patients with stage III gastric cancer: interim analysis of JACCRO GC-07, a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37:1296–304. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.18.01138.
Kang Y-K, Yook JH, Park Y-K, et al. PRODIGY: a phase III study of neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 plus surgery and adjuvant S-1 versus surgery and adjuvant S-1 for resectable advanced gastric cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2021;39:2903–13. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.20.02914.
Zhang X, Liang H, Li Z, et al. Perioperative or postoperative adjuvant oxaliplatin with S-1 versus adjuvant oxaliplatin with capecitabine in patients with locally advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma undergoing D2 gastrectomy (RESOLVE): an open-label, superiority and non-inferiority, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2021;22:1081–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00297-7.
Tsuburaya A, Mizusawa J, Tanaka Y, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin followed by D2 gastrectomy with para-aortic lymph node dissection for gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis. Br J Surg. 2014;101:653–60. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.9484.
Iwasaki Y, Sasako M, Yamamoto S, et al. Phase II study of preoperative chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin followed by gastrectomy for clinically resectable type 4 and large type 3 gastric cancers (JCOG0210). J Surg Oncol. 2013;107:741–5. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23301.
Terashima M, Iwasaki Y, Mizusawa J, et al. Randomized phase III trial of gastrectomy with or without neoadjuvant S-1 plus cisplatin for type 4 or large type 3 gastric cancer, the short-term safety and surgical results: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study (JCOG0501). Gastric Cancer. 2019;22:1044–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-019-00941-z.
Iwasaki Y, Terashima M, Mizusawa J, et al. Gastrectomy with or without neoadjuvant S-1 plus cisplatin for type 4 or large type 3 gastric cancer (JCOG0501): an open-label, phase 3, randomized controlled trial. Gastric Cancer. 2021;24:492–502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-020-01136-7.
Shitara K, Bang YJ, Iwasa S, et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan in previously treated HER2-positive gastric cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:2419–30. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2004413.
Bang Y-J, Van Cutsem E, Feyereislova A, et al. Trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction cancer (ToGA): a phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2010;376:687–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61121-X.
Japanese Gastric Cancer A. Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines 2021 (6th edition). Gastric Cancer. 2023;26:1–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-022-01331-8
Kataoka K, Tokunaga M, Mizusawa J, et al. A randomized Phase II trial of systemic chemotherapy with and without trastuzumab followed by surgery in HER2-positive advanced gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with extensive lymph node metastasis: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG1301 (Trigger Study). Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2015;45:1082–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jjco/hyv134.
Bartley AN, Washington MK, Colasacco C, et al. HER2 testing and clinical decision making in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: guideline from the College of American Pathologists, American Society for Clinical Pathology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:446–64. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2016.69.4836.
Hofmann M, Stoss O, Shi D, et al. Assessment of a HER2 scoring system for gastric cancer: Results from a validation study. Histopathology. 2008;52:797–805. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.03028.x.
Japanese Gastric Cancer Association. Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines 2010 (ver. 3). Gastric Cancer. 2011; 14: 113–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-011-0042-4.
Katayama H, Kurokawa Y, Nakamura K, et al. Extended Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications: Japan Clinical Oncology Group postoperative complications criteria. Surg Today. 2016;46:668–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-015-1236-x.
Hofheinz RD, Merx K, Haag GM, et al. FLOT versus FLOT/trastuzumab/pertuzumab perioperative therapy of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive resectable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: a randomized phase II trial of the AIO EGA study group. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40:3750–61. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00380.
Wagner AD, Grabsch HI, Mauer M, et al. EORTC-1203-GITCG—the “INNOVATION”-trial: effect of chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, versus chemotherapy plus trastuzumab plus pertuzumab, in the perioperative treatment of HER2 positive, gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma on pathologic response rate: a randomized phase II-intergroup trial of the EORTC-Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Group, Korean Cancer Study Group and Dutch Upper GI-Cancer group. BMC Cancer. 2019;19:494. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-5675-4.
Sato Y, Kurokawa Y, Doki Y, et al. A phase II study of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 in gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis (JCOG1704). Future Oncol. 2020;16:31–8. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2019-0528.
Kita R, Yanagimoto Y, Imazeki H, et al. Protocol digest of a randomized controlled adaptive phase II/III trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG2203 (NEO-JPEG). Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/jjco/hyad149.
Sengupta PP, Northfelt DW, Gentile F, Zamorano JL, Khandheria BK. Trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity: Heart failure at the crossroads. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:197–203. https://doi.org/10.4065/83.2.197.
Lenz H-J. Management and preparedness for infusion and hypersensitivity reactions. Oncologist. 2007;12:601–9. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.12-5-601.
Ito S, Sano T, Mizusawa J, et al. A phase II study of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 followed by gastrectomy with D2 plus para-aortic lymph node dissection for gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis: JCOG1002. Gastric Cancer. 2017;20:322–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-016-0619-z.
Shao Z, Pang D, Yang H, et al. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for patients with early or locally advanced ERBB2-positive breast cancer in Asia: the PEONY Phase 3 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6: e193692. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.3692.
Gianni L, Pienkowski T, Im Y-H, et al. Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early HER2-positive breast cancer (NeoSphere): a randomised multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13:25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70336-9.
Gianni L, Eiermann W, Semiglazov V, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab followed by adjuvant trastuzumab versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer (the NOAH trial): a randomised controlled superiority trial with a parallel HER2-negative cohort. Lancet. 2010;375:377–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61964-4.
Shitara K, Lordick F, Bang YJ, et al. Zolbetuximab plus mFOLFOX6 in patients with CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (SPOTLIGHT): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023;401:1655–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00620-7.
Janjigian YY, Shitara K, Moehler M, et al. First-line nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric, gastro-oesophageal junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CheckMate 649): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021;398:27–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00797-2.
Kang YK, Chen LT, Ryu MH, Oh DY, Oh SC, Chung HC, et al. Nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative, untreated, unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction cancer (ATTRACTION-4): a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2022;23:234–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00692-6.
Shitara K, Van Cutsem E, Bang YJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone for patients with first-line, advanced gastric cancer: the KEYNOTE-062 phase 3 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6:1571–80. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.3370.
Acknowledgements
The results of this trial were presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The authors thank the patients, their families, and the investigators of the JCOG Stomach Cancer Study Group for their contribution to the study and the members of the JCOG Data Center and JCOG Operations Office for their support in data management and study coordination (Ms. Mayumi Hayakawa). In Japan, clinical trials involving off-label drug use cannot be conducted under the National Health Insurance System. As the perioperative use of trastuzumab for resectable gastric cancer has not been approved, this study was conducted under the Advanced Medical Care System of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan, with which off-label use of the drug became possible and routine medical care costs were reimbursed by the National Health Insurance System. The authors are grateful to Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., LTD for providing trastuzumab. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Funding
This study was supported in part by the National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund (26-A-4, 29-A-3, 2020-J-3, 2023-J-03) and by a grant from the Applied Research for Innovative Treatment of Cancer Project of Health and Labour Sciences Research Expenses for Commission (H26-40) and AMED under Grant Numbers JP16ck0106043 and JP19ck0106311. Trastuzumab for the patients of the test arm was supplied free of charge by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., LTD.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
M Tokunaga has received lecture fees from Johnson & Johnson, Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, Olympus Medical Systems, Ono Pharmaceutical, Lilly Japan, and Daiichi Sankyo. N Machida has received lecture fees from Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, Ono Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly Japan, Yakult Honsha, Takeda, MSD K.K, Chugai Pharma, Merck KGaA and has received research expenses from MSD, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Ono Pharmaceutical, Taiho Pharmaceutical, ALX Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan. J Mizusawa has received honoraria from Taiho Pharmaceutical and Chugai Pharmaceutical; his spouse is an employee of Pfizer. S Ito has received lecture fees from Taiho Pharmaceutical and Otsuka and has received research expenses from Ono Pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, and Merck. H Fukuda has received lecture fees from CMIC Co., Ltd, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. T Yoshikawa Lecture fees from Chugai, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Ono Pharmaceutical, Medtronic, BMS, EA Pharma, Johnson and Johnson, Intuitive Surgical, Japan Blood Products Organization, Olympus, Lilly, and Novartis. N Boku has received lecture fees from Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, Ono Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, and Lilly Japan and has received research expenses from Ono Pharmaceutical and Takeda Pharmaceutical. M Terashima has received lecture fees from Taiho Pharmaceutical, Chugai, Ono Pharmaceutical, Bristol Myers Squibb Japan, Yakult, Takeda, Lilly Japan, Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic Japan, Intuitive Japan, and Olympus. All remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Tokunaga, M., Machida, N., Mizusawa, J. et al. Early endpoints of a randomized phase II trial of preoperative chemotherapy with S-1/CDDP with or without trastuzumab followed by surgery for HER2-positive resectable gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with extensive lymph node metastasis: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG1301C (Trigger Study). Gastric Cancer 27, 580–589 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-024-01467-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-024-01467-9